For as long as humans have been around, there has been religion. A way to explain the origins of the universe, a way to explain what happens to us when we die, a way to explain why certain behaviours cannot be tolerated. And for as long as religion has been around, so has atheism, the anti-religion – with their followers rejecting faith and putting complete trust in their own version of reality. Tragically, what should be a simple difference of opinion, escalated over the centuries and millennia into needless wars and violent confrontations that lose fractions of the world’s population, not just between atheists and theists but also between different religions.
When two Mormon missionaries knock on Mr Reed’s door, they happily begin conversing on the word of the lord, but as Reed shows some pushback and criticism, they become uneasy. After Reed locks them inside the house, the two women are confronted by a brutal and somewhat educated verbal attack on their practices and history’s spiritual belief systems. Now forced to do what he commands in order to leave, the girls soon find themselves caught up in Reed’s elaborate attempt to condemn believers and reveal the “true” motive of dogmas.
Heretic is a unique blend of pro and anti-Christian content. While its villain argues against religion as an idea, he takes aim at Mormonic Christians specifically with the arrival of his two targets. I believe both believers and atheists are the punchline. While it’s easy to see the two main characters as religious punching bags, it’s also just as easy to see the flaws in Reed’s arguments as he loses himself in his obsessive crusade against spiritual practices. It’s a divisive story, but if you, like me, don’t consider religion in your life, it’s the most interesting debate you’ll witness. On the sidelines, refereeing, it feels like anyone’s victory.
If you keep your eye out, there are plenty of references to religious practices, outside of Reed’s passionate speeches. In the first act, he offers the two women two doors to choose from, one marked ‘believer’ and the other marked ‘disbeliever’ in a subtle nod to the Hell House attractions run by Evangelical Protestants.
Mr Reed is played by the delightful Hugh Grant. His charming persona in classic 90s rom-coms like ‘Bridget Jones’ and ‘Four Weddings’, has given him a remarkable advantage in horror, keeping the audience on his good side as he slowly pulls strings backstage. You’re constantly shifting back and forth in your seat wondering what he’ll do or whether he has the dark side to do it. Of course, writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods do wonders, creating such a fascinating character with almost no backstory. His unwavering war against religion raises many questions, yet we’re given no answers. How many victims has he had? How much of his life has he spent to unveil religion as the tool of the enemy? Why hasn’t he been caught yet?
Chloe East plays Sister Paxton, the more enthusiastic of the Mormon pair. We spend the majority of the runtime with her, and her development within those nearly 2 hours feels righteous. No one should have to go through the pain of being kidnapped and ridiculed for their chosen faith, but the journey she embarks on, the viewpoints she’s shown feels necessary. By the end of the story, she’s re-evaluated her goals, and her resistance to the pain makes her a brilliant protagonist to root for.
Sophie Thatcher plays Sister Barnes, the more dominant of the pair. Though we don’t get as much time with her as we do Sister Paxton, her scenes are an absolute pleasure. After being bombarded with Reed’s pompous tone it feels so pleasurable to hear her tear his arguments apart. Thatcher does a brilliant job portraying independence and confidence. She stands up for herself and never confuses strength with attitude or domineering verbal assaults.
Heretic is the movie all others should strive to be. It attempts to start powerful discussions about how we live, how we accept information and what we’re living for. Does it matter if the stories of the Bible were false? Why do people feel the constantly itching need to convince others of their beliefs? How much of history has the human race wasted on the feud between religion and atheism? The persecution of the Jews from the Egyptian Empire through the 20th century, the slaughter of Christians during the reign of the twelve Caesars; even the assimilation of the Aboriginals and the Stolen Generation, when Christianity was forced on children. ‘Heretic’ is a horrific reminder that religious discrimination that hasn’t come close to ceasing. I can only hope cinemagoers will be able to separate themselves from the religious debates far enough to see that the horror is the time and effort that has gone into that discrimination.
Mason’s Top 3 Reasons to Watch ‘Heretic’
- One of my favourite films of the year, an interesting think piece by the men who brought you ‘A Quiet Place’
- An incredible revelatory performance by Hugh Grant
- A unique interpretation of a ‘Final Girl’
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